40 Tested Kitchen Tools Our Kitchen Lab Expert Swears By
Top-tested tools and appliances that earned a spot in my home kitchen.
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As the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab director, I've been testing kitchen products professionally since 2014. When I was in culinary school, however, I was taught that a good chef's knife was all I needed. While I’m still a minimalist at heart, I’ve learned to appreciate kitchen gadgets that make meal prep easier and faster.
Some of my top picks:
- My Everyday Go-To: GIR Premium Spatula
- Air Fryer Essential: EVO Original Oil Sprayer
- Best Package Opener: Slice Ceramic Blade Cutter
Here are the best kitchen tools and gadgets I keep within reach at home—most of which are unique and unassuming. The picks include top-tested products from our Lab as well as recommendations from our Lab analysts and Test Kitchen editors.
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Meater’s wireless, leave-in meat thermometer tracks the ambient temperature (the air temperature in your grill, oven, etc.) and the internal temperature of your food while you cook. The smart probe connects to an app displaying target, ambient, and internal temperatures. It even provides an estimated cook time and displays how long your dish has been cooking.
RELATED: Best Meat Thermometers
I find traditional pizza cutters hard to use, but this rocker is super sharp and can cut through all types of pizza. It's large, has a comfortable handle, and beats any pizza wheel I've ever used.
Whether you’re meal prepping or looking for a way to store your leftovers, this tray makes it easy with 1-cup compartments that you can freeze into blocks. You can also get a set that includes various sizes.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Souper Cubes
I used this ice box until I got a nugget ice maker. It allows you to make gem-shaped ice and store it right in the bin.
RELATED: The Best Ice Cube Trays
This top-selling waffle maker comes in more colors and patterns than I can count, as well as shapes like hearts or stars. It's perfect for quick breakfasts and kids.
You can also use it to make crispy rice!
This portable blender changed my mind about all portable blenders. It's cordless, small, and highly efficient—the perfect size for my protein shakes and single-serve smoothies. The drinking vessel detaches from the base, so you don't have to lug around the motor as you do with most other portable blenders (even though it's light).
I used to be skeptical of jar openers until I tried this one. It works by placing your jar on the rubber grip, positioning the opener on the lid, and twisting the opener. It hasn't let me down yet.
This newly designed garlic press feels sturdy in the hand. It features a swinging garlic-clove holder that makes cleaning as easy as possible; plus, it’s dishwasher-safe.
This is no ordinary knife. Its short, wide blade makes it perfect for scooping and spreading with ease—think peanut butter, jelly, cream cheese, you name it. Plus, the serrated side can be used to cut bread and tomatoes.
This dusting wand makes traditional sifters a thing of the past. Dip it into flour, confectioners' sugar, or cocoa powder, twist the end to form the ball, then shake for a light, even dusting. It also takes up very little storage space.
Eva Bleyer, our Lab analyst, loves this tool for scooping every last bit out of a container. The shorter one works well with smaller jars and measuring spoons.
It’s hard for me to pick just one cooking tool I love and recommend from GIR, but if I had to, it would be this silicone spatula that I use almost every day, from scrambling eggs to stirring sauce and more.
Its ladle is also one of my favorites. It’s large, has measurement markings, and is flexible enough to scrape up every last bit of soup or stew.
You’ll be amazed at how much use you’ll get out of this flexible but sturdy silicone cookie spatula. It’s a favorite of Chief Food Director Kate Merker and the perfect size for eggs and sometimes even burgers.
Thin and flexible fish spatulas are great for turning eggs, burgers, and, of course, fish. This one, with a silicone edge, is a new favorite that works with nonstick pans.
Our top-tested immersion blender can do nearly everything a full-size blender can, plus chop and whip cream. It’s a versatile multitasker for any kitchen.
RELATED: Best Hand Blenders
This scale has come in handy for me more times than I can count. It measures how much gas is left in my propane tank, so I know if I can get through a full cook or if I really need to replace it. It can also be used when fishing and for weighing your luggage.
I always recommend Evo oil sprayers. They spray a fine, even mist that's ideal for air frying, and I've never had one clog.
I transport food in my Dutch oven all the time, and this stretchy latch is a lifesaver. It wraps around and secures your cookware lids, making it easy to carry soups, stews, and other dishes without worrying about spills.
I have several of these stashed around my house and office. It has a tiny ceramic blade that can open all of your packages, including plastic clamshells. It's magnetic and comes with a hole on the end so you can store it on your keyring. We were so impressed with it that it won a Good Housekeeping Kitchen Gear Award—twice!
